Social media has been an integral part of our lives for decades now. It is no longer just about connecting with friends but also influencing others' opinions and behaviors. Social networks such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, etc., are used for entertainment, advertising, and education purposes. People spend hours every day scrolling through their feeds while learning about new trends and developing interests.
This excessive exposure to social media can significantly impact one's moral development.
How do social networks subtly guide moral development?
Social networks have a significant influence on our morals because they shape what we admire, imitate, and emotionally invest in. Admiring someone means looking up to them, feeling inspired by them, and wanting to be like them. Imitation refers to copying their behavior without thinking about it too much. Emotional investment implies investing in people or things that make us feel good about ourselves or bring joy into our lives. When exposed to these influences daily, we may start modeling their actions, attitudes, and beliefs without realizing it. This can lead to forming biases based on race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and politics.
In addition to shaping our values, social networks also influence how we interact with each other online.
When someone posts a picture showing off their latest purchase, others will likely comment saying how nice it looks. If we constantly see people bragging about buying luxury items online, we might start associating wealth with success and happiness, which could distort our perspective of life and reality.
We must remember that everything shared on social media is curated to look perfect, from vacations to meals to relationships. This false perception of life can result in mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, etc., as individuals compare themselves to the edited images displayed online. Social networks are not always an accurate representation of real life but an idealized version where only the best moments are posted.
Social networks subtly guide moral development by shaping who we admire, imitate, or emotionally invest in. They create a false sense of reality that affects our outlook on life, leading to unrealistic expectations and comparisons between ourselves and others. We need to be mindful of this influence and question what we see on social media, considering whether it aligns with our personal values and goals in life. By doing so, we can protect ourselves from developing biases based on what we see online and develop a healthier relationship with technology.
How do social networks subtly guide moral development by shaping who we admire, imitate, or emotionally invest in?
The way we interact with others on social media platforms shapes our morality as it influences what people we look up to, what values we adopt, and what behaviors we find acceptable. Social networks are designed to create an environment of reciprocity where users feel valued and appreciated for their contributions, which can lead them to develop positive attitudes towards those they interact with online.